Playoff rematch with Heat offers extra motivation for Bucks

Updated May. 21, 2021 2:39 p.m. ET

Associated Press

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo acknowledges the incentive that comes from opening the postseason against the Miami Heat, who eliminated Milwaukee in the second round last year.

“Obviously everybody on the team has a little bit of extra motivation,” the

and went on to

“Totally different,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “The year is different. Both teams are different. ... It’s just a totally new challenge. We feel grateful that we have this opportunity to be in the playoffs and compete against them. They’re a great team.”

The Bucks had the NBA’s best regular-season record in 2018-19 and 2019-20, but they

“I believe that pressure is earned,” said Antetokounmpo, who injured his ankle early in Game 4 and didn’t play the rest of last year’s Heat series. “If I wasn’t who I am today and I didn’t work as hard as I work and I didn’t focus on the game, I didn’t love the game and I didn’t compete the way I am, we wouldn’t be talking about pressure. Pressure is earned, and I love it.”

The Bucks responded to last year’s exit by rearranging the pieces complementing Antetokounmpo and two-time All-Star forward Khris Middleton. The most notable addition was

Milwaukee won two of its three regular-season meetings with Miami, but Heat star Jimmy Butler didn't play in any of them and two of those games took place in December.

He's ready to try knocking out the Bucks once again.

“You don’t hold anything back,” Butler said. “You leave it all out there. Best time of year for it.”

DIFFERENT TYPE OF REMATCH

Both teams have made notable changes since their last playoff meeting

Only five of the 11 guys who played at least a minute for the Bucks in last year’s Heat series remain on the roster: Antetokounmpo, Middleton, Brook Lopez, Donte DiVincenzo and Pat Connaughton.

Miami no longer has Jae Crowder, who averaged 15.2 points and shot 22 of 51 from 3-point range against the Bucks in last year’s playoffs.

SURGING FOES

The Heat were 7-14 early in the season and 22-24 and stuck at .500 in mid-April. But they enter the playoffs on a tear after winning 12 of their last 16 regular-season games. Milwaukee had won eight of nine games before closing the regular season with a

GIANNIS VS. HEAT

Very few teams do a better job defensively against Antetokounmpo than the Heat.

Antetokounmpo averages 18.6 points on 50.4% shooting in regular-season and playoff games against Miami. Only one team (Golden State, 18.4) holds him to a lower scoring average.

Miami holds a 17-14 series edge over the Bucks in games in which Antetokounmpo played.

SPO VS. BUD

There is no opening round series that pits coaches who have gone head-to-head more often than this one between Milwaukee’s Mike Budenholzer and Spoelstra. They’ve coached against each other 35 times, including playoffs. Spoelstra has an 18-17 edge.

The Denver-Portland series also has coaches that have opposed one other on 35 previous occasions. The Nuggets’ Michael Malone holds an 18-17 edge over the Blazers’ Terry Stotts.

THE NEW (OLD) GUYS

and the

That’s not all they have in common. The 36-year-old Tucker and 35-year-old Ariza played together for the

“He’s one of my best friends, in the league or outside the league,” Tucker said.

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AP Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds contributed to this report.

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